Winter got off to an early start here in the Mid Atlantic as we’ve already had two snow storms. At this very moment, we have about 5 inches of fresh snow on the ground from a storm that hit about 48 hours ago. Our little 2 year old is loving her first real ’snow experience’ and can’t get enough of playing around in the white stuff. The first few snow storms, especially around the holidays, are really beautiful and a welcomed change of pace. After about the 5th or 6th storm that causes everything to grind to a halt and interrupts daily routines, it starts to get a little annoying. And I’ve always wondered why it is that people have to stock up on toilet paper and milk before a snowstorm??

For athletes, the biggest inconvenience is that is causes us to do most of our training indoors. Riding and running on snowy streets can be dangerous even after they are plowed. Slippery “Black Ice” on the roads is a nightmare for cyclists and runners alike and cars are dangerous even on dry roads, much less slick, icy and snowy roads. I must admit that when I was younger and more daring, I’d be outdoors training in practically all crazy conditions but now that I’m older (and wiser??) and have a few more responsibilities, I ‘ve cut back on risky training behaviors. Read the rest »

Here are some quick fix solutions to some common problems that come with running in the cold.

Problem: Throat gets really dry from the cold air.
Solution: Get a Buff or use a gator to cover your neck and mouth while running. This will make a tremendous difference. I prefer the Buff because it is lightweight. Get one at www.buffusa.com

Problem: Breathing is labored.
Solution: Try chewing gum while you run. This will add some moisture to your mouth and will help with your breathing. Read the rest »

What happens when we get an ear infection?

Ear infections occur in the middle ear—the part of the ear that has the little bones that conduct the sound from the ear drum to the inner ear. The middle ear is a small, completely enclosed chamber with a tube (the Eustachian tube) that is able to open and that connects to the back of the throat behind the nose. When things are going well, the chamber is filled with air and the tube can open and allow the pressure inside the middle ear to be equal to outside air pressure. The tube also opens and closes to allow the middle ear to keep itself clean and empty.

But there are several ways that problems can occur. The nearby nose and throat are full of bacteria that have been trapped there as they try to enter our bodies. These bacteria live in uneasy harmony with us, but they are always ready to infect us if they can find a way to do so. Some of these bacteria will find their way up the tube to the middle ear, but in a healthy person with a fully functioning response system and Eustachian tubes, the bacteria will be repulsed or killed.

So ear infections happen when an environment is created that allows the bacteria to get into an area where it will be safe, where it can grow and expand and “raise a family”. That area is often the middle ear. Most commonly this occurs when we have gotten a cold. The cold virus weakens our ability to fight off bacterial infection in many ways. And the virus irritates the linings of our nose and throat. The irritation can make the Eustachian tubes function poorly. Tonsils and adenoids get large in an effort to fight off the virus, and so they too can block the function of the Eustachian tubes. Read the rest »

Here’s a little anecdote that says it all about the difference between a first time Mom and a second time Mom: with Nate (my first son), I was compulsive about the cleanliness of his binky. It always sat in a bag or ziploc in my diaper bag, and anytime I was out, I’d wash it obsessively to make sure it was germ free. If it fell on the ground and I only had one with me, forget it, he’d have to cry until we got home or until I found a sink to wash it in.

The other day, I realized how much I had changed. Cole (the baby) started crying. I went to reach into my diaper bag, where I knew I had just randomly tossed in a binky right before leaving the house. Of course it had found it’s way to the bottom of the bag. I fished it out from the bottom of the bag, where all sorts of crumbs and unidentified objects reside.

So what did I do? Brushed it on the side of my jeans and shoved it into Cole’s mouth. And to be honest, I didn’t even really think about it as I merrily went along my way with a subdued and pacified baby. Oh, how times have changed. As a second time Mom, your standards lower - simply because you don’t have the time to be any other way. Read the rest »

You’ve seen it on ABC’s Good Morning America, you’ve heard that Rosie O’Donnell from The View loves it, you’ve seen it in fashion magazines - Mothers and daughters are showing their pride in each other like never before by hitting the town in matching and coordinating outfits. Why is this trend so hot right now? Here’s why:

· Mothers are ‘younger’ and daughters are ‘older’. Moms still read the same fashion magazines as they did before they attained Mom status. Today’s Moms are often health conscious and fit; they look and feel young and refuse to abide by outdated societal fashion guides to ‘dress their age’. Bombarded with mass-marketing fashion magazines and the fashion attention their TV icons receive, young girls are starting to attain a fashion consciousness at an earlier and earlier age. This brings mothers and daughters closer together on the spectrum of fashion trends more than ever before. The boundaries between the generations have shifted and overlapped, rendering everyone virtually the same age in ‘fashion’ years. Read the rest »

Ever find that there is never enough time in the day to do only half of the things on your “to do” list? As a full-time father, business owner, and student, I tend to find myself having to prioritize errands too often due to lack of time available, and as parentrepreneurs, I’m sure you all are having the same issues. Let me introduce you to a clever idea for all of us, Platinum Timing.

Platinum Timing is a premier concierge business servicing the greater Los Angeles area. Their professionals take care of the everyday mundane tasks for you so that you can enjoy more free time with your little ones! Read the rest »

Are you interested in international adoption, but aren’t sure where to begin? Fortunately for you, Dawn Davenport can help. Attorney, researcher and mother of four through both birth and adoption, Dawn has taken her own experiences and those of other families on the adoptive parenting path and shared them in a wonderful, positive and informative book, “The Complete Book of International Adoption: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Child.” Read the rest »